Police oversight languished under Trump. Biden's DOJ is bringing federal inquiries back
Police oversight languished under Trump. Biden's DOJ is bringing federal inquiries back
Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions all but suspended federal oversight of troubled police agencies. Will we see a resurgence under Merrick Garland?
Kevin Johnson and Kristine Phillips, USA TODAY
Published 8:00 AM EDT Apr. 24, 2021 Updated 8:00 AM EDT Apr. 24, 2021
Whenever top Trump Justice Department officials addressed a law enforcement audience, their remarks would invariably include familiar parting words: You have our thanks, and we have your backs.
The refrain, however, would come to represent more than a warm send-off.
In 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a formal directive curtailing the departments intervention in local police departments to force changes involving the use of lethal force, training, recruitment and officer discipline.
The memo effectively discouraged federal oversight of troubled police agencies, with the Trump administration opening just one so-called pattern and practice investigation compared with the 25 launched during the Obama administration.
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https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/2021/04/24/biden-bringing-back-doj-oversight-police-trump-curtailed/7324524002